‘GABI NG PARANGAL’ Sports stars, personalities bibigyang-pugay ng PSA

PANGUNGUNAHAN ng Team Philippines, nakopo ang overall crown sa 30th Southeast Asian Games, ang sports stars at personalities na gagawaran ng parangal ng Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) sa isang special rite ngayong gabi.

Sa pangunguna nina world champion at double gold winner Carlos Yulo, women’s world boxing champion Nesthy Petecio, at Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, ang Philippine contingent ang tatanggap ng coveted Athlete of the Year sa SMC-PSA Annual Awards Night sa Centennial Hall ng makasaysayang  Manila Hotel.

Sasamahan ng top sports officials, sa pa­ngunguna nina Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, ­Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the country Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, at Deputy House Speaker at NorthPort team owner Mikee Romero ang pinakamatandang media organization sa bansa na pinamumunuan ni president Tito S. Talao, sports editor ng Manila Bulletin, sa pagbibigay-pugay sa mga nagbigay ng karangalan sa bansa sa kani-kanilang lara­ngan sa nagdaang taon.

Si legendary pool icon Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes, bahagi ng Filipino de­legation sa SEA Games sa kabila ng edad na 65, ang magsisilbing special guest speaker sa gala night na itinataguyod ng PSC, MILO, at Cignal TV. Si Reyes ay gagawaran din ng Lifetime Achievement Award ng Philippine sports-writing fraternity.

Humakot ang host country ng kabuuang  149 golds, 117 silvers, at 121 bronzes upang tulungan ang bansa na masikwat ang overall title ng biennial meet sa ikalawang pagkakataon pa lamang sa loob ng 42 taon na paglahok sa SEA Games, isang collective effort na nagbigay-daan upang mapili ang Team Philippines na ma­ging recipient ng Athlete of the Year trophy sa two-hour program na suportado rin ng Philippine Basketball Association, AirAsia, at Rain or Shine.

Bibigyan din ng citations ang lahat ng gold medal winners sa meet kung saan binubuo nito ang karamihan sa halos 200 awardees na nasa 2019 honor roll list.

Inimbitahan din sa annual event kung saan magiging hosts sina veteran broadcaster Sev Sarmenta at Rizza Diaz, si House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano, chairman ng Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc).

Igagawad naman kay Yulo, nakasambot ng puwesto sa Tokyo Olympics makaraang maging unang Filipino at male gymnast mula sa Southeast Asia na nagwagi ng gold sa World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, ang President’s Award, habang pararangalan si Chairman Ramirez bilang Executive of the Year sa pagsisilbi bilang Chef De Mission ng Team Philippines sa SEA Games.

Nakatakdang tanggapin ng Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) na pinamumunuan ni president Ricky Vargas, ang National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year title, habang ang special awards ay ipagkakaloob kina Thirdy Ravena at Jack Danielle Animam (Mr. and Ms. Basketball), Bryan Bagunas at Sisi Rondina (Mr. and Ms. Volleyball), Bianca Pagdanganan (Ms. Golf), Stephan Schrock (Mr. Football), at multi-titled women’s mentor Patrick Aquino bilang kauna-unahang Coach of the Year.

Isang hiwalay na MILO Junior Athlete of the Year award ang igagawad sa quartet nina Alex Eala, Daniela Dela Pisa, Miguel Barreto, at Daniel Quizon, habang ang Philippine men’s 3×3 basketball team ay pagkakalooban ng Chooks-To-Go Fan Favorite award.

Samantala, pa­ngungunahan nina Diaz at Petecio ang listahan ng major awardees na kinabibilangan din nina Tokyo Olympic qualifier at Asian Athletics Championships gold winner Ernest John Obiena, world boxing champions Jerwin Ancajas at Johnriel Casimero, five-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, five-time ­Philippine Cup champ San Miguel Beer, undefeated six-time UAAP women’s basketball title holder NU Bulldogs, golfers Juvic Pagunsan, Princess Superal, at Aidric Chan, and Horse of the Year Union Bell.

Sasamahan naman nina swimmers ­Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh at Marc Bryant Dula si Eala at ang anim na iba pang recipient ng Tony Siddayao awards, ipina­ngalan kay late Manila Standard sports editor Tony Siddayao, na kinikilala bilang Dean of Philippine sportswriting, at ipinagkakaloob sa young at promising athletes 17-years-old-and-below.